CTV Rolls Out Blueprint for Ultra-HD OB Fleet

Date: 28/02/2018

CTV Outside Broadcast, a subsidiary of Euro Media Group (EMG), recently completed the refurbishment and technical upgrade of three of its large flagship OB units to Ultra-HD, featuring Axon Synapse 4K signal processing, infrastructure, control and monitoring as standard.

After the successful debut of OB2 and OB11 in 2017, delivering landmark 4K events such as the Isle of Wight festival – a European-first in entertainment broadcasting – and international test cricket for Sky, the refit project is now complete on OB4 and the trio is busy on the road providing HD and Ultra-HD production capabilities for contracted and ad-hoc assignments.

CTV works closely with Axon and has relied on Synapse signal processing across its fleet for a number of years - a choice based on its proven reliability, scalability and design that is 4K-capable as a matter of course.

“The challenge in adopting Ultra-HD and HDR is how to effectively implement the new workflows without radically increasing costs – both in terms of technology and operator downtime,” says Richard Morton, CTV’s Head of Projects. “With Axon, we have a future-proof infrastructure that has enabled us to transition from HD to 4K without a snag.”

OB4 was the third vehicle to undergo a complete technology refit and the unit went into action to deliver Sky’s 4K coverage of the PDC World Darts Championship over the 2017 Christmas period. The triple-expanding-side OB features 24 Sony 4K cameras, a 160-input Sony MVS-8000X mixer plus six EVS server positions. It is supported by Axon 4K signal processing and 3G glue with Axon’s 4K production tools providing up and down converters that fit in the same form factor as the 3GB/s modules. Axon’s Cerebrum monitoring and control platform is at the heart of the operation, running three UHD galleries through an easy-to-use graphical interface and custom-built panels of 42 LED buttons.

CTV supports a wide variety of live sports and entertainment events and such productions demand efficient, flexible and adaptable workflows that can be easily operated by both staff and freelancers alike. Despite the complexities of upgrading to UHD, operators within each of the refurbished OBs continue to work in an environment and workflow with which they are very familiar.

“Axon continues to provide us with a proven unified workflow and control solution. We now have an efficient blueprint to roll-out across the fleet making the move to UHD, and eventually HDR, seamless and risk-free,” concludes Morton. “This strategy is keeping CTV at the leading edge of technology.”

In addition to regular live sports coverage, CTV has captured original entertainment shows in UHD HDR commissioned by Netflix.

As a Freelance Production Sound Mixer and Recording Studio Engineer Henri Rapp turns to Wisycom, a designer and builder of the most sophisticated RF solutions for broadcast, film and live production, for his wide range of narrative film and TV projects, as well as various commercial shoots. Based primarily in the Midwest region of the United States, Rapp relies on Wisycom's MCR42 UHF Miniature Camera Receiver and MTP30S Wideband Bodypack Transmitters for all of his location shoots. With Wisycom, Rapp is able to capture the finest quality sound, delivering unparalleled results to viewers.

Blackmagic Design today announced that Toronto-based production house CreamVR used four Micro Studio Camera 4Ks to shoot the virtual reality (VR) series “A Curious Mind with Dominic Monaghan,” now available on Hulu VR.

The World and rsquo;s Premier MTB Race Joins Forces with LiveU to Provide Highest Quality Live Coverage

Posted: 15/03/2018

The world’s most televised mountain biking race, The Absa Cape Epic, has teamed up with LiveU to provide live coverage of the 8-day mountain bike stage race in South Africa’s Western Cape. The Prologue and Grand Finale will be broadcast live on TV, with the Grand Finale being broadcast in more than 50 countries around the world. During the intermediate days, a full live streaming broadcast of the racing will be streamed online to the Absa Cape Epic’s Facebook page. The event will take place from 18th – 25th March.

ITV Studios’ Daytime team – with programmes such as Good Morning Britain and This Morning – decided in 2017 that they wanted to reduce their environmental impact and after much research, opted to deploy a combination of hybrid fuel vehicles and LiveU technology to achieve their aim. LiveU UK partner Garland Partners worked closely with systems integrator Broadcast Wireless Systems to allow ITV Studios to achieve this.

Peli Products, the global leader in the design and manufacture of virtually indestructible cases for protecting valuable equipment, is proud to support the Team of Mars Analogue Fumarole Interdisciplinary Collaboration (MAFIC), by providing high-performance protective cases for their next mission.

QYOU Media, the world’s leading curator of premium ‘best-of-web’ video for multiscreen distribution, has announced its first UK deal with GoMedia, Europe’s leading on-board infotainment provider, which will see QYOU’s curated online video content distributed to UK rail passengers.

Snake Newton, FOH Engineer for Harry Styles relies on DPA Microphones to mic up the entire drum kit for their current world tour production, performing over 20 confirmed dates across Europe before jetting off to Australia.

Research shows most Consumers lost an electronic device due to lack of protection

Posted: 15/03/2018

61% of people have lost a fragile electronic device or a camera at some point due to water, sand or a strong impact that got the equipment smashed. However, when travelling with laptops people tend to be more careful and use a protective case, according to 83% of the respondents. These are some of the findings from the recent research[1] among a sample of 1.400 participants carried out by Peli, the global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance protection cases.

Peli Products Appointed as Official Supplier of The Honda Racing Team for the Dakar 2018

Posted: 15/03/2018

The Dakar race is the World’s most extreme sporting event where racers will have to cross hundreds of kilometers per day for more than 2 weeks. Starting on the 6th to the 20th of January 2018, the Rally will cover 3 countries – Perú, Argentina and Bolivia - with 10.000 km for 15 days. As an Official Supplier of the Honda Racing Corporation Motor Team in this adventure, Peli Products – the global leader since 1976 in the design and manufacture of high-performance protective cases and advance lighting solutions – supplied the team with a range of Peli Protector Cases to ensure the protection of motors and of repair equipment together with a suit of Peli’s torches and headlamps to support the mechanics in their maintenance tasks.

The new 7070R is the most technologically advanced light in Peli’s tactical torches range, thanks to its revolutionary electronic technology. Being Peli’s first torch to offer USB wireless charging and Bluetooth app-controlled programming, the 7070R comes with futuristic features. Peli Products - the global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced portable lighting and protective case solutions – developed this torch to offer law enforcement and military professionals a top-notch solution.

To support Law enforcement and Military professionals, Peli Products - the global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced portable lighting and protective case solutions – keeps on innovating in their Lighting technology. With the new tactical torches 7110, 7610 and 7620, policemen and security professionals will be ready for any situation during their dispatch call. These self-programmable models are the smartest lights to hit the streets. They offer the legendary DNA of the Peli tactical lights family: High performance standards and their extraordinary resistance.

In keeping with its ethos of providing innovative technology solutions, NEP UK has created the first wireless Super-Slow live cameras, using 4K equipment from Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, and Vislink. The cameras will be used this week for ITV’s coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, and will be deployed on other sporting events in the coming weeks.

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